So, what's it like on the Tattered Earth?

There are two answers.

A hypothetical visitor to this alternate's Earth would be hard pressed to point out any one aspect of the local culture or society as screamingly different. The people and nations are remarkably similar: aside from that odd set of Chinas, and the inevitable minor details (for example, the Statue of Liberty carries a sheathed sword at her hip: however, the face is unmistakably Lilith's), there's nothing noteworthy... on the surface.

There are things that the perceptive visitor can note, however. To begin with, there's the humans themselves. They tend to be about half an inch shorter in average height, and their body language is possibly a little less assertive. All racial and body types are in evidence, of course, but there's just a hint less variation. The most noteworthy thing is the fact that very few Tattered humans are left-handed - and that's only of interest to those who would know of the Grigori, and how their lack in this history has changed things.

The society is, if anything, improved from that of a more canonical Earth's. The lack of Demon Princes may not have affected the broad sweep of history much (something that would infuriate them), but the absence of an organized group of celestials attempting to take out their inadequacies on humans has positively affected the quality of life. The general crime rate is significantly lower in the more urbanized nations, and there is more of an industrial infrastructure in more places.

The people seem less neurotic, but wearier. Psychosomatic illnesses and obsessive behaviors aren't as common (neither is stress-related disorders), but fatigue seems to be a common complaint. The average Tattered human sleeps nine hours a day. Getting over a cold or the flu seems to take forever - and everyone takes vitamin supplements (they're covered by most health plans, and routinely given out as part of public assistance). Allergies are endemic, even though pollution is notably lower than in other places. This weariness, incidentally, seems to have affected sports: Tattered humans get excited and pleased at athletic feats that would have a canon human mildly swearing in irritation at how sloppy the home team's being today.

The technology is fairly close to 'normal', but with odd overtones. Neither Heaven nor Hades ever saw much point in letting plagues rip through humanity, so many endemic diseases were quickly stifled. The Tattered Earth never really saw AIDS or polio. Flu and cold vaccines are in the process of being disseminated throughout the planet. The major medical field of research is in fertility: the population of the Tattered Earth is somewhere around 3.75 billion, and only slowly expanding. Geriatrics is less emphasized: when old people get sick, they tend to pass on somewhat more quickly.

Most gadgets are identical, although again there's a glitch or two. In general, things don't last quite as long as they should: not enough to make a difference in game terms, but it takes a little bit more effort to properly maintain items. The trains routinely run a minute or so late: the pay phones are a little more likely to eat your quarter; the radio will never be completely free of static. There are slightly more engineers and mechanics, and slightly fewer artists.

Science is somewhat more divergent. Servitors of Lightning and SCIENCE! have had more of an effect than they know: without their efforts, humanity might still be firmly in the vacuum tube era. It's not that humanity is less creative, but the increased effort needed to do anything in this alternate would have made innovation a harder proposition. As it is, their well-intended assistance has caused researchers to depend more on serendipity and inspiration than on sustained work. The scientists have subconsciously noted that, if they really need something, it will eventually appear - and their work habits have ever so subtly started to degrade as a result.

It's in the arts where the difference becomes obvious. Tattered art is polarized: on the one hand, popular entertainment has become stylized, bland and self-referential. The public wants to see the exact same thing, over and over again, and don't even expect it to appear different. Reruns of "I Love Lucy" have remained in the same time slot on the same major network for the last fifty years - and the ratings have stayed constant throughout that time. Fashion is much the same way: the colors tend to be neutral, and the styles practical and rugged. Tattered women haven't worn heels in decades: Tattered men would look upon power ties with deep suspicion. Even the children don't go for quite as brightly-colored clothes.

The avant-garde, on the other hand, is deliberately outré. Performance art is the art form of choice for the counterculture, and it's long since incorporated most of the genuine artists - including those that, in happier worlds, would have been novelists or comedians or opera singers. What painters exist would have considered Salvador Dali and Picasso hopelessly representational, the musicians create unique musical instruments and scales, and the sculptor's medium of choice is ice. The hottest new trend is what we would call live-action role-playing games: only here, the performers have audiences that pay to watch six people savagely lampoon mainstream culture by solemnly pretending to be sixth level Lawyers and Accountants.

Moving partially out of art, what would be called 'Modern' architecture elsewhere never caught on here. Neither did Art Deco. There are few skyscrapers, even in New York City (commonly thought to be the epitome of Western culture and progress). There is a strong Gothic theme running through Tattered architecture, which blends oddly with the neo-Classical. Many columns, but few spires.

In short, the Tattered Earth is just a little drabber. Not very much: not noticeable at all, really. It's like a mild toothache: the pain isn't noteworthy until it's gone. It's not like humanity here doesn't laugh and sing and cry and rage and do foolish or wise things, after all: it's just that they have to put just a little bit effort into it.

...

And then, there's the other answer to the question "What is Tattered Earth like?"

Look out your window.

Have things become just a little chillier for you, all of a sudden?

Good. Pass it along to your players.